“This is a shared mission…the
work that we do here in the Ateneo.”
-Fr Karel San Juan
SJ, 2018 Ignatian Spirituality in Education Workshop
The
two days designated for the 2018 Ignatian Spirituality in Education Workshop (ISEW)
last August gave the participants an opportune time to dive deeper into their
spirituality and to renew their purpose and mission in the Ateneo.
It
was inevitable too, that no less than the Jesuit community, led by Father
President Karel San Juan SJ would lead the workshop into the process of
discernment—of recognizing and appreciating one’s role in the organization and
continually serving in the mission of education in an institution fueled by
Ignatian Identity and Tradition.
On Journeying with AdZU: Amare et
Servire
The
workshop initiated with individual reflections and group conversations followed
by a session on one’s journey with AdZU facilitated by Jesuit Scholastics Bro
Jeffrey Pocong SJ and Bro Erwin Arandia SJ. They talked about Spirituality as a
way of living and loving and guided the participants in how the Mind, Heart,
and Hands are intertwined in guiding us to find God in all things.
Vice President (VP) for Formation Fr Wilfredo Samson SJ, VP for Higher Education Fr Marcos Louis
Catalan SJ, VP for Basic Ed Fr Stephen Abuan SJ, and SHS Chaplain Fr Francisco
Parilla SJ, followed suit to take on the other discussions for the two-day
event.
All good decisions lead to Human
Flourishing
On
Day 1, Fr Wilfredo Samson SJ handled the session on discernment. In his talk,
he emphasized how Good and Evil is in constant battle for one’s attention and
how their influence in one’s decisions could either bring consolation or
desolation. He introduced the participants to the Examen, a devotional exercise involving reflection on and moral
evaluation of one’s thoughts, conduct, and experiences of the day and guided
them on how best to do the exercise.
The
Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall, the place for this year’s ISEW, stood witness to employees’ stories–testimonies of how working in the Ateneo has helped them develop a
stronger relationship with God. That through the work that they do and with the
help of careful discernment, they have found their mission in the Ateneo. Among
the sharers were College of Nursing Dean Maria Lorna Paber, Junior High School
Admissions and Scholarship Coordinator Santiago Araneta, Office of Student
Affairs Director Christine Calunod, Senior High School Assistant Principal for
Administration Lucia Macrohon, Assistant Principal for Grade School Nimfa
Mabalot, School of Liberal Arts Faculty Hezekiah Concepcion, Assistant to the
President for Social Development John Mayo Enriquez, and Maintenance Staff
Victoria Resureccion. This pool of sharers also proved that whatever work one
does in the Ateneo has the potential to inspire others which could translate
into a deeper spirituality.
“Life
in the Ateneo is not just a profession…it is a vocation, a calling of not just
doing the right thing but doing the right thing in the best way possible.” –Mr
Santy P Araneta, on Witnessing for
the 2018 ISEW
To love and to serve: Apostolate and
Mission
Day
2 of ISEW began, albeit on a serious note, with Fr Karel giving a history on
the formation of the Society of Jesus and the different characteristics of
Ignatian Spirituality, to surrender one’s self in the fulfillment of a greater
purpose and how spirituality takes on a different meaning and purpose per person.
He also explained how prayers like Take and Receive and the Prayer for
Generosity are actual acts of ultimate faith and surrender to God. In his talk,
he urged the participants to offer their skills and abilities to God so these
can be put to good use and help others. “Gamitin
mo ang pagka-cute ko, para makatulong sa mga tao!,” he said, causing laughter
among the participants thereby lightening up the mood and lessening the
seriousness of the discussion.
The
workshop had a number of breakout sessions allowing the participants to share
personal experiences and stories of their high and low moments in the Ateneo.
Questions like “What is the most
significant trace of God in your life at present?”, “How has God’s love made a
difference in my life?”, and “How can I use [my] experience as an avenue for
growth?” guided the group sharing and added genuineness to the stories.
